Don DeVito dies at 72

A&R professional and producer Don DeVito, most widely known for his '70s use Bob Dylan, died November. 25 in a hospice within the Bronx following a lengthy fight with cancer of the prostate. He was 72. DeVito, who offered as senior Vice president of the&R at Columbia Records for several years, started his connection to Dylan around the 1976 album "Desire," among only four albums through the singer-songwriter to achieve No. 1 around the U.S. album chart. Exactly the same year, younger crowd created "Hard Rain," an active collection attracted from the date on Dylan's Moving Thunder Revue tour. Producer continued to helm Dylan's 1978 studio album "Street Legal" (1978) and "Bob Dylan at Budokan," an active collection recorded in Japan and released within the U.S. in 1979. Younger crowd done the 1985 boxed set "Biograph" and created the live seem for Dylan's all-star "30th Anniversary Concert Celebration," launched on Compact disc in 1993. Besides creating the boxed Dylan collection "The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3," DeVito done catalog projects for Sony's Legacy division by Tony Bennett, Carole King, the Byrds, Journey, Janis Joplin and Shaun Buckley, amongst others. Younger crowd created albums by Billy Joel and Aerosmith and actor Joe Pesci's 1998 vocal set "Vincent Laguardia Gambini Sings Only for You." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Is This the Strangest Michael Jackson-Related Lawsuit Ever?

The year is almost over, but it's not too late for a late contender for the most ridiculous lawsuit of 2011. This one comes at the cross section of Michael Jackson fandom and the sometimes conspiracy-breeding domain of law known as copyright. A man is suing MSNBC for airing an interview with Dr. Conrad Murray on the theory that it infringed his work-in-progress animation film.our editor recommendsHollywood's Notable DeathsMichael Jackson's Bed Pulled From Auction Everett Watson filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court in Texas, saying that he spent two years working on a film script that was to be titled, Murder of Michael Jackson: The Perfect Murder. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths Sony wouldn't look at his script, citing a policy of not examining unsolicited submissions, but Watson allegedly found a law firm to take a look at it after handing over a $550 retainer fee and agreeing to pay $275 an hour. Unfortunately, paying the firm has convinced Watson that he has a "partial agreement with the firm to produce and market the film." Earlier this month, MSNBC aired its interview with Murray after the physician was found guilty by a jury of involuntary manslaughter. The interview touched off a debate about "checkbook journalism" and led to a lawsuit from Murray's creditors attempting to gain money from Murray's participation. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Riches to Rags: 18 Stars Who Have Lost It All Now comes Watson's error-prone, punctuation-happy complaint, which pretty much sums up all the most unfortunate reasons why Hollywood needs lawyers in this day and age: "My script involves the death of Michael Jackson. The c.p.r. attempt. The transporting of Michael Jackson to the hospital! The discovery of the propofol! The quest to find out who gives Michael the propofol! It covers other suspects. It reveals Conrad Murray as a potential suspect without a clear motive then goes on to present a possible motive for the murder...Conrad Murray had no right to sell any story under the guise of A documentary to anyone. That story is copyrighted. There are so many elements in [the MSNBC special that are protected from reproduction by anyone without my consent it has to prevented from further broadcast or I will not be able to profit from my work." E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Hollywood's Notable Deaths Michael Jackson MSNBC

Aaron Sorkin 'Strongly Considering' Steve Jobs Biopic

First he took on Mark Zuckerberg and now, Aaron Sorkin could be bringing the late Steve Jobs to the big screen.our editor recommends'Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview' Preview Hits the Web (Video)Aaron Sorkin Says Steve Jobs Asked Him to Write a Pixar MovieTHR's Writer Roundtable: 6 Top Scribes Talk Standing Up to Clint Eastwood, Dealing with Rewrites and Being Fired by Your Wife PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes of THR's Writer Roundtable 2011 "Sony has asked me to write the movie and it's something I'm strongly considering," Sorkin told E! Online on Monday, Nov. 21 at the P.S. Arts Express Yourself event. "Right now I'm just in the thinking-about-it stages," he said. "It's a really big movie and it's going to be a great movie no matter who writes it." VIDEO: THR's Writer Roundtable Includes Aaron Sorkin and 5 Other Top Scribes Sony reportedly paid $1 million for the rights to Walter Isaacson's biography of the late Apple co-founder, which sold more than 379,000 copies in its first week on the market. Interest in Jobs' life story skyrocketed following his sudden death on Oct. 5. Jobs was 56-years-old and had suffered from pancreatic cancer. Sorkin confirms that he is currently reading Isaacson's book as he mulls Sony's offer. PHOTOS: Steve Jobs' 10 Memorable Milestones From His Career "He was a great entrepreneur, he was a great artist, a great thinker," Sorkin said of Jobs. "He's probably inspired [my 11-year-old daughter] Roxy more than he's inspired me... she plays with all his toys." Following the news of Sony's acquisition, The Hollywood Reporter asked veteran casting director Sharon Bialy who could embody Jobs in his older and younger years. Her suggestions: Ashton Kutcher, Andrew Garfield or Shia LeBeouf for young Jobs, and Keanu Reeves, Ralf Fiennes or Noah Wyle for older Jobs. Related Topics Aaron Sorkin Steve Jobs

Boss Rupert Murdoch Sells Block of Non-Voting News Corp. Shares

NY - News Corp. chairman and Boss Rupert Murdoch has offered nearly all his non-voting shares inside the entertainment conglomerate, with different controlling filing. An origin mentioned the acquisition, revealed in the controlling filing late Friday, will be a pure financial planning move that will not reduce his voting stake within the organization. Another moguls and industry professionals regularly sell small amounts of stock inside their companies to enhance money that they may use or place in their estate. The Financial Occasions reported the acquisition reverses stock purchases created in February, that have been layed out just like a signal of Murdoch's confidence inside the company's outlook. A News Corp. representative declined to go over the stock purchase. In line with the controlling filing, the 80-year-old Murdoch offered 3.63 million class A non-voting shares at prices which can be between $16.60 and $17.26. Overall, the acquisition netted him around $61.7 million, in line with the Feet. Because the purchase was of non-voting stock, it won't dilute the Murdoch family's forty percent voting stake in News Corp. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Rupert Murdoch News Corp.

European film channel launches

MOSCOW -- The Film Europe Channel, which is dedicated to screening only European films, launched late Thursday to subscribers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Film Europe Media Company founder and CEO Ivan Hronec said it will eventually go continent-wide. The channel will show annually up to 500 European films in their original version with subtitles 24 hours a day, seven days a week without advertisements. It will broadcast in SD via satellite, with an HD option using fiber-optic cable. "We will offer viewers film productions not only from the traditionally strong countries like the U.K., France, Italy, Poland and Russia, but also from smaller countries, such as Portugal, Denmark, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Austria and even Liechtenstein, the latter being the co-producer of 'Paris je t'aime,' which we aired symbolically yesterday as the very first film on our programming schedule." The channel is being launched by a company that, since it was founded six years ago, has opened 10 TV channels across Europe. Film Europe Media Company, which is privately owned, has been built without government subsidies from individual countries or the European Union, Hronec said. "We want to show that the project has a strong commercial foundation and only then will we take on partners. This is the path that culture today must take -- responsible projects that have a healthy financial approach, while at the same time bringing cultural and artistic value to audiences," Hronec added. In Slovakia and the Czech Republic, project partners for the new channel are the satellite platform Skylink, M7 Group and Slovak Telecom, which will be an exclusive partner in the beginning for IPTV. Slovak Telecom will include the television channel as part of its satellite package. At the same time, Slovak Telecom will include films from Film Europe in its VOD service, Magio. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

NBA Players Reject Latest Contract Offer, Plan To Decertify Union; Season In Doubt

The NBA’s locked-out players rejected the league’s latest offer for a new collective bargaining agreement today, with union executive director Billy Hunter calling the proposed deal “extremely unfair.” He said the players’ association is beginning the process of disbanding the union — the first step in filing an antitrust action against the league and sending the whole mess to the courts. It’s the same tactic the NFL’s players used during their lockout over the summer, but this time the move could jeopardize the entire NBA season; already, the league had cut 10 games from the normal season in a revised schedule as the two sides remain far apart in contract talks. It would mean a big hit on ad revenue for ABC/ESPN, TNT/Turner and regional sports networks that hold lucrative TV rights to games. Commissioner David Stern had called the latest labor offer the league’s best, proposing a 50-50 split in revenue between players and owners. He said the next offer on the table will be much less favorable: a 53-47 split in favor of the league.

Rolex watch watch fetes arts mentorships

Rolex watch watch will celebrate the culmination of the 2011 Mentor & Protege Arts Initiative at Lincoln subsequently subsequently Concentrate on Monday. The philanthropic effort partners veteran mentors with ambitious artists in six different fields: dance, literature, film, music, visual arts and theater. This year, helmer Annemarie Jacir was selected to make use of Zhang Yimou. Rolex watch watch director of philanthropy Rebecca Irvin aided to look for the biennial program, first launched in June 2002. To find the proteges, separate nominating sections for your six disciplines each choose three runners as much as satisfy while using particular mentors, who increase the risk for concluding decision. For your mentorship, Zhang requested Jacir on occur Beijing for your filming of his epic pic "The Flowers of War," starring Christian Bale. Jacir also had the opportunity to edit a couple of from the movie's British-language moments. "Despite the text barrier, they discovered that they a good deal to keep,In . Irvin mentioned. "These are actually interesting mix-cultural trades, additionally to combine-generational." Other mentors this year were legit director Peter Sellars, music artist John Eno, dancer Trisha Brown, artist Anish Kapoor and author Hendes Magnus Enzensberger. Past mentors include Martin Scorsese, who requested Celina Murga on set and to the editing room for "Shutter Island." This Years proteges will showcase their be employed in public occasions within the NY Public Library, but Monday's gala will focus on praising 2010's-11 mentorships. Within the finish in the evening, Rolex watch watch will announce the mentors for an additional cycle. "It's been so satisfying and rewarding to find out that really great artists is so generous and enthusiastic about handing something lower," Irvin mentioned. "For an individual like Martin Scorsese, they aren't carrying it out for your ($50,000 honorarium). They're doing the job since they trust the project." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

House Preps For That Finish

Hugh Laurie Could it be lights out for House? Executive producer David Shoreline is placed to satisfy with executives from Fox and Universal TV (which produces the show) within the future to determine if this sounds like indeed the final season from the lengthy-running medical drama.Shoreline lately told the network and studio he needs a solution to be able to start plotting a possible series finale. One of the factors playing in to the decision: Is star Hugh Laurie prepared to hang up the phone Dr. House's stick? Would he perform the show if Shoreline leaves (the producer's deal expires in the finish of the season)? Does Fox have the show is simply too pricey to carry on, even while still it posts decent rankings? And would NBC (parent company to Universal TV) create a Hail Mary attempt for overtaking the show if Fox passes?Laurie's deal expires in the finish of the season, and also the actor has stated he might be prepared to move ahead. "It will likely be resolved soon," one show insider states. "[Shoreline] is searching to possess that conversation. She has a little of likely to do." An unexpected pickup is definitely possible, but when it's truly over, "eight years is a good run," the insider adds.Following a tough settlement last spring, Fox Entertainment leader Kevin Reilly stated it had been "pretty likely" it was House's final year. Reilly later told reporters that the concrete decision could be produced by mid-fall - that is now. In either case, expect a comment soon.Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Outsider takes U.S., Canada on 'Finisterrae'

Outsider Pictures has acquired all U.S. and Canadian privileges to Sergio Caballero's comedy drama "Finisterrae," offered by Buenos Aires' FilmSharks Intl. A L.A.-based telemarketer and distributor, delivering films within the U.S., Canada and Latin America, Outsider aims to create moviegoers probably the most original tales from all over the world, based on its mission statement. Winning a Tiger Award for debut feature in the 2010 Rotterdam Festival, pic activates two Russian ghosts, who walk the St. James Method to Finisterrae, a cape in northwest The country, so that they can rejoin the land from the living. Pic is peppered with surreal moments which appear to spoof highbrow artfilms. "Finisterrae" is created by Luis Minarro's Barcelona-based Eddie Saeta, co-producer of Cannes Palme d'Or champion "Uncle Boonmee," and among the driving forces behind left-of-area filmmaking in Europe. Inside a separate deal closed in the Rome Festival's Business Street, Inmovision has acquired Brazilian privileges to Argentinean Marcos Carnevale's "Widows." Argentina's greatest late-summer time local hit, grossing $1.9 million for BVI from the August. 18 bow, "Widow" toplines a couple of the nation's best-regarded as stars, Graciela Borges ("The Hands") and Valeria Bertuccelli ("A Boyfriend For My SpouseInch) within the story from the widow of the guy who grudgingly takes care of his mistress, now pregnant together with his child. Created by Fernando Sokolowicz and Disney co-possessed Patagonik, "Widows" has sparked distributor curiosity about the U.S., Japan, France and The country, stated FilmSharks' Guido Rud. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Rihanna Forced To Cancel For A 2nd Time In Sweden

First Published: November 3, 2011 9:04 AM EDT Credit: Getty Premium STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Caption Rihanna performs on day 2 of the V Festival at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, England on August 21, 2011 Organizers say Rihanna has been forced to cancel a show in Sweden due to exhaustion for a second time this week. Live Nation spokesman Kristofer Akesson said the singer felt ill ahead of her concert in Stockholm on Wednesday night and that she decided in consultation with a doctor to cancel the show about an hour before she was to go on stage. Akesson says Rihanna is exhausted and doesnt feel well, but could not give more details. The singer called off a concert in Malmo in southern Sweden on Monday, but was able to perform the following night in Stockholm. Organizers are trying to arrange new dates for the shows. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

RZA joins 'Django Unchained' cast

RZAQuentin Tarantino is reaching to a familiar face for any part in "Django Unchained," tapping his "Kill Bill" composer RZA for any supporting role within the Weinstein Company's spaghetti Western. RZA will have Thaddeus, a violent slave focusing on a Mississippi plantation. Furthermore, "Frozen River" star Misty Upham continues to be cast like a buying and selling publish-bar owner named Minnie. RZA obtained both "Kill Bill: Volume 1" and "Kill Bill: Volume 2" for Tarantino, who's showing RZA's directorial debut "The Guy Using the Iron Fists," which RZA co-authored with Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" star Eli Roth. RZA stars within the Universal pic alongside Russell Crowe, in addition to Tarantino alums Pam Grier and Lucy Liu. Best referred to as p facto leader from the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA has spent the final many years building his feature resume and studying top-tier company directors, with looks in Ridley Scott's "American Gangster," Judd Apatow's "Funny People," Todd Phillips' "DeadlineInch and Paul Haggis' "The Following 72 Hours.Inch Thesp, who lately wrapped production on Paramount's "G.I. Joe 2," will quickly be observed in "A Really Harold and Kumar three dimensional Christmas." RZA will even join David Duchovny around the approaching season of Showtime's "Californication." RZA is repped by ICM and attorney Joe Carlone, while Upham's deal was brokered by Blaine Johnston and Kevin McGinley of Rogues Gallery Management. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Talkback: Who Has Been Bill Murray's Best Co-Star?

Yesterday it was announced that Bill Murray had signed on to star in Roman Coppola’s upcoming film, A Glimpse Into the Mind of Charles Swan III alongside — drum roll please — Charlie Sheen. In honor of this out-of-left-field pairing, let’s recall some of Murray’s best onscreen partners in film and consider who has been the best. It’s hard to even ponder the best without considering his most frequent collaborator and co-star in the ’80s, Harold Ramis. Before the pair’s notorious falling out, the Chicago-raised comedic actors appeared alongside each other in Stripes, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2 and Groundhog Day. Ramis also directed the Murray vehicle Caddyshack and co-wroteMeatballs. Although no one remembers Murray and Ramis for their groundbreaking scenes shared or crackling chemistry, Ramis deserves mention as a formidable co-star who could match Murray in wit and dryness if not prickly charisma. Then there are the co-stars that played pupil to Murray’s offbeat professor like Chris Makepeace, who was taught some crucial camp social lessons by Murray’s Meatballs counselor and Jason Schwartzman, whose peculiar private school student was taken under the wing of Murray’s lonely tycoon in Rushmore. Both actors lured multiple dimensions and a caring quality from Murray, who more often than not has lapsed into the role of incorrigible grump (Groundhog Day and Scrooged) or staple smart aleck (Ghostbusters) during his career. Richard Dreyfuss turned that pupil-professor relationship on its ear though, when in 1991’s What About Bob?, he played the angry therapist and mentor to Murray’s obsessive-compulsive patient with stalker tendencies. Although the movie was only a modest box office success, Murray’s role as an upbeat optimist — even in the face of his many phobias — was a welcome change. But perhaps most audience members would credit Scarlett Johansson as Murray’s best co-star for helping to coax out his most gentle, honest performance ever in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. As an aging actor who forges an unlikely bond with an unhappily married twentysomething (Johansson), Murray allowed himself to be completely vulnerable, finally trading wisecracks for subtle emotion, thoughtfulness and his first Oscar nomination. Which co-star do you think has been Murray’s best? Maybe you consider Johnny Depp (for Ed Wood), Robert Duvall (for Get Low) or Uma Thurman (in Mad Dog and Glory) to be the finest. Either way, we’d love to hear your opinion below.